PEOPLE IN MOST FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS SEE RUSSIA AS A FRIEND – INTL POLL

Interfax
Nov 25 2008
Russia

Most residents of former Soviet republics, except Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Baltic countries, see Russia as a friendly state, polls indicate.

This sentiment is shared by 82% of respondents in Armenia, 74% in
Belarus, 67% in Kazakhstan, 89% in Tajikistan, 78% in Uzbekistan,
58% in Ukraine, and 49% in Moldova, VTSIOM pollster told Interfax on
Tuesday after conducting polls this year in 13 former Soviet republics
jointly with the Eurasian Monitor international research agency.

Only 17% of those polled in Georgia and 12% in Azerbaijan described
Russia as a friendly state.

More than two thirds of Georgia’s residents (69%) see Ukraine as
a friendly nation. Respondents in Azerbaijan were split and 20% of
them said Ukraine was a friendly country and 21% Georgia. The number
of undecided respondents was greatest in Azerbaijan – 39%.

In Latvia, nearly half of respondents (49%) see Lithuania as a friendly
state, 41% Estonia and 26% Russia.

Sixty-two percent of those surveyed in Lithuania see Latvia as the
most friendly nation, 47% Estonia and 34% Ukraine.

The poll showed that almost half of Russian citizens consider
Belarus to be a friendly state (48%), one third Kazakhstan (33),
and one fifth Ukraine (22%). Baltic countries are seen in Russia as
the least friendly nations (4%, each).

Asked which of the listed countries would be the best for forging
a union with, more than half of respondents in Belarus (56%) named
Russia and a quarter (25%) the European Union nations.

Ukrainians would like to form a union with Russia (47%), Belarus
(29%) and the EU (21%).

Thirty-seven percent of those questioned in Russia welcome the idea
of forming an interstate union with Belarus, 29% with Ukraine and 24%
with Kazakhstan.

Forty-six percent of residents of Moldova welcome a union with Russia
and 32% with the EU.

Most of Armenian respondents (67%) are in the mood to form a union
with Russia and another 23% said no unions are necessary.

In Azerbaijan, 31% of those questioned said they would welcome a
union with Turkey and 24% with the EU.

In Georgia, 37% of respondents support the idea of their country’s
joining the EU.

Fifty-one percent of residents of Kazakhstan are positive about
unification with Russia and 32% said Kazakhstan does not need
unions. In Kyrgyzstan, 72% of respondents see a union with Russia as
a possibility and 32% with Kazakhstan. Most of those questioned in
Tajikistan (73%)

aspire for a union with Russia and 45% with Kazakhstan, while 65% of
respondents in Uzbekistan are positive about the prospect of forming
a union with Russia.

The international poll involved 16,143 respondents in 13 former Soviet
republics (except Estonia.). In Russia the poll was conducted by
VTSIOM, which questioned 1,600 people in 140 localities. Respondents
were free to give several answers.